Chapter 53: Procedure (1)
Two days. Two days before the Linus Cup, the Academy's preparing for our departure. They've fixed our beds and remove our things that might not be returned to. They also closed the training room where we spend almost our every day in the Academy. Our schedules are also cleared out at our remaining classes.
The rest that we do is to have meetings on Miss Aura's or Sir Apollo's office for strategy and tactic. I noticed that the people gradually stare at us as we pass by. This is nothing new to us. But there is something about how they look at us— hope, pity, silent 'good luck' and farewell— the reason why we are not comfortable.
"Since yesterday, I've been uncomfortable at the stare they gave us," Victoria said while we were walking in the hallway on that day. She sneered when we were looked at by a group of students hanging out in the hallway.
"Just leave it alone. As if you didn't experience it on the previous group in the Linus Cup." Cain calmly responded. Were walking together with Victoria, Cain, Luna, and Ethan towards Miss Aura's office.
"I don't look at someone who's lost, someone." She pointed out as we continue to walk. "They are just adding to the pressure, eh." I secretly watched Victoria out of the corner of my eyes.
Only in this recent days, it came to me that we all felt nervous for the upcoming Linus Cup. I was just too comfortable knowing that the other members are the best pick and most trained ability in this place. I only thought now that like me they are also scared to the possibility that we won't return alive.
I remember when I first saw them. It seems so long ago even though it was just a few months passed. They looked magnificent. Far from how I looked. I don't even want to touch them or be near them. I could see from their appearance being a student in this Academy.
Luna was still not there. But there's Victoria who is a bitch since then. Querulous. Finicky. Then there's Cain who is confused as hell when he saw that the culprit was a girl. Then there's Ethan who's seriously searching the household. And finally, Gin.
Ever since then I was uncomfortable with his presence. He's too quiet, serious, would always like being followed. Authority is radiating from his mere gaze and at all cost, I don't want someone to order me.
Whenever I remember my first days at this Academy. I just laugh. The stupid deal with Gin, the training between me and Victoria. I feel that I'm damp cloth amid the shining trophies. That was too prevailing that's being persecuted.
Because of that, I was involved in a lot of mess with the group, from our visit to the town, the scene that I've made during the general meeting, when Priam came, to the trouble between Gin and I.
You see— this group already reached so far. Maybe this is why I'm struggling now. I couldn't just leave them.
Yesterday, I learned that Lucas joined in the Linus Cup and he is our opponent. At that time I almost wanted to hurt myself so that I could turn my heartache I feel somewhere else. I don't know what to do. I nearly went insane.
I locked myself in the room and cried. Because it didn't come to my mind that the reason I am fighting is the one I'm going to fight. It was the end of the line for me— there’s no point in fighting. I was already contemplating to get away from this place. Even if I die in the perimeter fence and guards of this place, I probably won't care.
But then I remembered the group. I remembered the trainings we did. I remembered the mess that we survived. And I can't let go of those. I can't lose, everything that they work hard for because of me, suddenly.
So I decided to stay. If I see Lucas in the Linus Cup, I still don't know what to do. I don't want to think what can possibly happen. But if that's our last meeting and either of us can't return, I need to accept it. Well, maybe this is what is destined to happen. Perhaps this is what it means to us, unfortunate people.
We reached Miss Aura's office. She was sitting in her seat when we arrived. Sir Apollo was also there. But there was no Gin. We sat on the chairs where Miss Aura's office looked like a classroom.
There's a large illustration in front of us that's projected on the wall. When we all seated, Miss Aura cleared her throat before talking.
"Tomorrow we will travel to the arena." silent but she emphatically said. "I am hoping that at that time you are all ready. Physically, mentally, emotionally."
She looked at me when she mentioned those things. I looked at her straight in the eyes. The atmosphere around is very solemn. So quiet compared to the previous atmosphere of the meetings or discussions like this. Miss Aura cleared her throat again then sit so that the group can see the illustration on the wall. Sir Apollo was just sitting in the corner.
"Even us don't know what environment will be set this year in the Linus Cup. But we based this illustration on the previous games." Miss aura pointed the wall using a stick. An image gradually formed there. It was a bird's eye view of a confined barren place. It's wide, like an island, dense, much bushed and trees, there's also rivers and rocky place. Unusual things are also scattered like the perimeter fence, on-off red lights in the different part of the place, electric induced field.
The group became silent. The image gradually zoom-in. It stopped when it focused to a lengthwise and black colored polished metal standing on the ground. It looks like a smooth piece of a black iron strip that's far from the green surroundings there. It reached almost on the waist and thick as one dangkal¹.
“Do you know what this is?” Miss Aura asked like it was the most important thing inside the arena. “It’s the most basic and the most important information you have to know before joining the game.”
Something blinked on the surface of the black metal. A green and red light. Continuous and fast. Until some numbers suddenly appeared there. Like a countdown.
¹Dangkal – the distance between the tip of a man’s thumb and the tip of his little finger when the hand is spread out, about. 9 inches.